Ty Berry, FFA advisor at the High Plains FFA Chapter at Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyo., has been teaching agriculture for 33 years. While Ty has seen a number of his students use their FFA training and leadership skills to achieve career success in high-profile fields, he says the real success for him is the human connection that develops between an agriculture teacher and the students.

This interview aired on the March 26, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we revisit a conversation with Lynette Marshall, who in 1979 was the first female to win the National FFA Public Speaking Contest for a prepared speech (now the Prepared Public Speaking CDE). Today Lynette is president and CEO of the University of Iowa Foundation and she serves on the National FFA Foundation’s Individual Giving Council.

This interview aired on the March 26, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Todd Biddle, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Bald Eagle High School in Wingate, Pa., had an experience of a lifetime when he was invited by his local congressman to attend the president’s State of the Union address. Todd says the recognition his chapter received as a result of his trip to Washington, D.C., gave his students new energy and motivated them to work harder.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we revisit an interview with Karlene Lindow Krueger, who made FFA history in 2002 when she became the first female to receive the American Star Farmer award. In 2014, when the Smithsonian was developing the “American Enterprise” exhibit for the National Museum of American History, Karlene donated her blue corduroy FFA jacket to the museum to commemorate her historic achievement.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Stefonie Sebastian, education specialist at the National FFA Organization, explains the FFA: Food For All Grant program, which provides funds to FFA chapters for service-learning projects to fight hunger in their communities. Some examples of previous FFA: Food For All projects include chapters developing a community garden, raising laying hens and broilers, and hosting workshops on various aspects of agriculture.

This interview aired on the March 19, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Michael Suitor, FFA advisor at Alcona High School in Lincoln, Mich., describes his FFA chapter’s maple syrup operation. Each year during maple syrup season, Michael’s students run a sugar shack, doing everything from tapping the trees and gathering the sap to making and bottling the syrup. He says managing the sugar shack gives his students valuable hands-on business skills.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Kaitlyn Elliott, an agricultural education student at the University of Kentucky and a former member of the Boyle County FFA Chapter, talks about her SAE project – sorghum production. Working with her grandfather, Kaitlyn grows sorghum from seed, then processes the cane to make sorghum molasses and barbecue sauce. By promoting Poorhouse Sorghum to local businesses, Kaitlyn has increased both the demand for her products as well as her profit margin.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Kerstin Christiansen and Caitlin Rose are FFA members in Winnemucca, Nev., where they help with an annual Ag Day event. Third-grade students are invited to visit twelve booths that represent different aspects of the industry of agriculture, from bees to veterinary science. Through hands-on experiences, the youngsters gain firsthand knowledge about agriculture.

This interview aired on the March 12, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Rosa Sondag, FFA advisor at Central Decatur High School in Leon, Iowa, is a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for exceptional teachers. Rosa, an agriculture teacher for 16 years, says it is important for her students to understand that everything is related to agriculture; in fact, she challenges her students to “Stump Ms. Sondag” with what is not involved in agriculture. (From WHO-HD TV in Des Moines, Iowa.)

This interview aired on the March 5, 2016 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.